New Testament Outline: Mark 7-9

Mark 7 — The Pharisees and scribes question Jesus about not following the tradition of the elders. Jesus says that it’s not what goes into a person that makes him unclean; it’s what comes out of a person. Jesus goes to Tyre and Sidon and heals a gentile woman’s daughter. Jesus returns from Tyre and Sidon and heals a man who couldn’t hear or speak.

Mark 8 — Jesus feeds a crowd of greater than 4,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. The Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus. Jesus teaches his disciples to be aware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Herod. He and his disciples arrive in Bethsaida and Jesus heals a blind man.

New Testament Outline: Mark 4-6

Mark 4 — Jesus is teaching beside the sea and he tells the parable of the sower. Jesus then explains the purpose for telling parables, and then he explains the parable of the sower. Before telling a couple more parables Jesus talks about a lamp and a basket. Jesus then tells several parables in a row including the parable of the seed growing and the parable of the mustard seed. In the evening Jesus gets into a boat with his disciples and then calms a storm.

Mark 5 — Jesus and his disciples come to the Gerasenes and he heals a man with a demon and then the people beg Jesus to leave. Jesus uses a boat to cross to the other side and there he heals a woman who had been bleeding for a long time and Jairus’s daughter.

New Testament Outline: Mark 1-3

Mark 1 — Mark begins by quoting the prophets Malachi and Isaiah and then introducing John the Baptist. John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and then Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Jesus arrives in Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God and then he calls his first disciples. Jesus and his disciples go into the synagogue in Capernaum and Jesus heals a man with an unclean spirit. Jesus leaves the synagogue and enters Simon’s house to heal his mother-in-law. In the morning Jesus begins to preach in Galilee. A leper comes to Jesus and Jesus cleanses him.

Mark 2 — Jesus returns to Capernaum and health a paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof by his friends. Jesus tells some scribes that he has authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus goes out beside the sea and calls Levi to follow him.

Exegetical Meditations (36)

Do you want knowledge? What about wisdom? According to the Book of Proverbs, the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom.

Why is it that fearing Yahweh is related to knowledge and wisdom?

First we probably ought to come to terms with what it is to “fear” Yahweh (God). What usually comes to mind for most of us when we think about fearing God is being afraid of him in the sense that he scares us. Why are we scared of things? Typically it’s because we think whatever it is might hurt us or it could be that we just don’t understanding something, so naturally we’re scared of what might hurt us or what we don’t understand.

New Testament Outline: Matthew 25-28

Matthew 25 — Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents. Then Jesus teaches his disciples about the final judgment.

Matthew 26 — After Jesus finishes teaching his disciples he tells them that he will be crucified. As Jesus and his disciples are in the house of Simon the leper, a woman anoints him. Judas meets with the chief priests about handing Jesus over to them. Jesus celebrates the passover with his disciples and says that one of them will betray him. He establishes the Lord’s Supper. Jesus and the disciples go to the Mount of Olives and he says that Peter will deny him.

Exegetical Meditations (35)

Paul wrote in Colossians 1:16 that all things have been created through Jesus and for Jesus. What does that mean? Thankfully, Paul helps us out by what he wrote earlier in that same verse.

The full statement from Paul is, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Here we can see what Paul meant by all things.

New Testament Outline: Matthew 22-24

Matthew 22 — Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast. After the Pharisees left to plot against Jesus, they send their disciples to ask him about paying taxes to Caesar. Later that same day the Sadducees ask Jesus about the resurrection. Jesus tells them they don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. After the Pharisees hear that Jesus silenced the Sadducees they come to him and ask him about the great commandment. After, Jesus asks them who the Christ is.

Matthew 23 — Jesus pronounces seven “woes” on the scribes and Pharisees. He tells them they tie up heavy burdens for people, they shut the kingdom of God in people’s faces, they teach wrongly about the temple, they only pay attention to the parts of the Law they like, they make sure they look good even though they’re dead inside, and they kill the prophets sent to them. Jesus then laments over Jerusalem.

New Testament Outline: Matthew 19-21

Matthew 21 — Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and a colt as those watching shouted in praise. Then Jesus enters the temple and drives out all those who had disgraced the temple. In the morning Jesus curses a fig tree and teaches his disciples about prayer. Jesus enters the temple again and the chief priests and elders question his authority. In response to their questioning Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, and the parable of the tenants.

New Testament Outline: Matthew 17-18

Matthew 17 — Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and is transfigured before them. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what they saw until he’s raised from the dead. Jesus and his disciples come to a crowd and heal a boy with a demon. Jesus again talks about his impending death and resurrection. The disciples and Jesus come to Capernaum and Jesus has a conversation about the temple tax. He tells Peter to catch a fish and pay the tax with the coin in the fish’s mouth.

Matthew 18 — The disciples come to Jesus and talk to him about who’s the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus speaks to them about the sinful world and temptations to sin. Jesus then tells the parable of the lost sheep.